6LoWPAN is an IPv6 protocol that allows communication over low power wireless personal area networks (WPANs). It enables smaller devices with limited processing power and battery life to communicate using IPv6. 6LoWPAN uses the IEEE 802.15.4 standard and creates an IP-enabled mesh network of edge routers and sensor nodes to transmit data between small IoT devices and the broader internet or cloud platforms. It provides secure, low-cost communication for applications like home automation and industrial monitoring.

1.  6LoWPAN is an IPv6 protocol, and It’s
extended from is IPv6 over Low Power
Personal Area Network. As the name itself
explains the meaning of this protocol is that
this protocol works on Wireless Personal
Area Network i.e., WPAN.

3.  WPAN is a Personal Area Network (PAN)
where the interconnected devices are
centered around a person’s workspace and
connected through a wireless medium.

4.  6LoWPAN allows communication using the
IPv6 protocol. IPv6 is Internet Protocol
Version 6 is a network layer protocol that
allows communication to take place over the
network. It is faster and more reliable and
provides a large number of addresses.

6.  6LoWPAN initially came into existence to
overcome the conventional methodologies
that were adapted to transmit information.
 But still, it is not so efficient as it only allows
for the smaller devices with very limited
processing ability to establish
communication using one of the Internet
Protocols, i.e., IPv6.
 It has very low cost, short-range, low
memory usage, and low bit rate.

7.  It comprises an Edge Router and Sensor
Nodes. Even the smallest of the IoT devices
can now be part of the network, and the
information can be transmitted to the outside
world as well.
 For example, LED Streetlights.

10.  It is a technology that makes the individual
nodes IP enabled.
 6LoWPAN can interact with 802.15.4
devices and also other types of devices on
an IP Network. For example, Wi-Fi.
 It uses AES(Advanced Encryption
Standard)128 link layer security, which AES
is a block cipher having key size of
128/192/256 bits and encrypts data in blocks
of 128 bits each. This is defined in IEEE
802.15.4 and provides link authentication
and encryption.

12.  The device should be having sleep mode in
order to support the battery saving.
 Minimal memory requirement.
 Routing overhead should be lowered.

13.  It is used with IEEE 802.15,.4 in the 2.4 GHz
band.
 Outdoor range: ~200 m (maximum)
 Data rate: 200kbps (maximum)
 Maximum number of nodes: ~100

14.  6LoWPAN is a mesh network that is robust,
scalable, and can heal on its own.
 It delivers low-cost and secure communication
in IoT devices.
 It uses IPv6 protocol and so it can be directly
routed to cloud platforms.
 It offers one-to-many and many-to-one routing.
 In the network, leaf nodes can be in sleep mode
for a longer duration of time.

15.  It is comparatively less secure than Zigbee.
 It has lesser immunity to interference than
that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
 Without the mesh topology, it supports a
short range.

16.  It is a wireless sensor network.
 It is used in home-automation,
 It is used in smart agricultural techniques,
and industrial monitoring.

17.  Security: 6LoWPAN security is ensured by
the AES algorithm, which is a link layer
security, and the transport layer security
mechanisms are included as well.
 Interoperability: 6LoWPAN is able to
operate with other wireless devices as well
which makes it interoperable in a network.